25 Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lanka for 'illegal poaching'
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Colombo: The Sri Lankan Navy has detained 25 Indian fishermen and impounded two trawlers off Point Pedro town in Sri Lanka, alleging their involvement in 'illegal poaching' during fishing activities in international waters.
The navy confirmed the detention after conducting a special operation on Saturday night, expressing concerns about the detrimental impact of foreign fishing practices on the livelihoods of local fishermen and marine resources.
Hailing from Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district in Puducherry, the detained fishermen were brought to the Kankasanthurai harbour. They are slated to be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal proceedings.
The incident has raised concern among the fishermen's relatives, who have appealed to both the central and state governments to intervene and secure the release of the detained individuals and their two trawlers.
This event follows the recent release of 27 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan authorities, who returned to Chennai on separate days in groups of 12 and 15.
The detention of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has been a recurring issue, leading to repeated arrests of Indian fishermen and the seizure of their boats and fishing gear. Notably, in October alone, 64 fishermen from Rameshwaram and Mandapam were apprehended in three separate incidents.
According to official records, in 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended a total of 33 Indian trawlers and 220 Indian fishermen involved in cross-border fishing activities.
This ongoing issue has prompted concerns from both the Tamil Nadu government and the central government led by the BJP. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin highlighted this matter in a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, emphasising the protection of traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay region.
The issue was previously addressed during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, where a humane approach towards resolving the matter concerning the livelihoods of fishermen was discussed.